•°☆Book of Advice☆°•

Depression

First, what is depression?

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.

Most people go through periods of feeling upset or down, but when you're depressed you constantly feel sad for weeks or even months.

Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can snap out of by pulling yourself together, it just doesn't work like that

The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery!

Here are some helpful ways that may help you cope with your depression:

Be more active!

Now, I don't necessarily mean run a marathon every morning but, take up some form of exercise. There's evidence that exercise can help lift your mood, it can help you feel refreshed and calm. If you haven't exercised for a while, start gently by walking for 10-20 minutes every day, it doesn't have to be a long distance, it can just be doing laps around your garden.

Have a healthy diet

Some people don't feel like eating when they're depressed and are at risk of becoming underweight and/or gaining an eating dissorder. Others find comfort in food and can put on excess weight. So it is good to maintain a healthy diet, don't eat to much sweet stuff and junk food, sometimes broccoli can help you!  

Antidepressants can also affect your appetite.

If you're concerned about weight loss, weight gain or how antidepressants are affecting your appetite, talk to an adult or friend you trust or even your doctor.

Stay in touch

Don't withdraw from life and isolate yourself. Socialising can improve your mood, it can make you feel apart of something and remind you that you aren't alone. Keeping in touch with friends and family means you have someone to talk to when you feel low. You can talk to anyone, your siblings, friends, family, your online friends or even me!

Do something you enjoy

Whether it be playing football, watching tv, learning a new dance or drawing, doing something you enjoy can really help your mental health. Even the small things help!

Just remember you are not alone, many people deal with depression in their life and they almost always overcome it. So i belive in you! You can overcome it!